01-001 C.M.R. ch. 702, § 2 - PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR SELECTION PROCESS

1. The Department shall select a suitable animal welfare organization to administer the program through a competitive process. The selected Administrator must meet the statutory requirements set forth in the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund.

2. In the selection process, the Commissioner shall inquire about the candidate's prior experience managing programs of similar funding on a statewide basis. The Department shall also assess:

A. Whether the candidate organization is capable of meeting the statutory requirements for an administrator of the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund;

B. Whether the candidate organization has the facilities to coordinate the needs of the Companion Animal Sterilization Program;

C. Whether the candidate organization is staffed by, or has submitted adequate plans to be staffed by, individuals capable of handling government funds and confidential information;

D. Whether the candidate organization has sufficient staff, or has submitted adequate plans to have sufficient staff, to respond to questions from the public within 10 business days; and

E. Whether the candidate organization currently is, or has a reasonable plan to be, financially capable of maintaining sufficient staff to administer this program.

3. The selected Administrator shall be responsible for performing all statutory duties required for administration.

4. The Commissioner shall deposit all available funds in the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund directly into the Help Fix ME account of the Administrator as determined by the Department of Administrative and Financial Services. The Administrator shall submit quarterly financial reports to the Commissioner. This report shall include a reconciliation of all funding and shall include but not be limited to the number of vouchers issued/redeemed, veterinary provider progress versus funding applications, number and type of spay/neuter procedures performed, geographical distribution of pet owners benefitting from spay/neuter procedures, an accounting of funds dispersed, and balance of the account.

Notes

01-001 C.M.R. ch. 702, § 2